Frugal doesn’t have to be boring! Check out these tips for saving on recreation and outings for your entire family and let the revelry begin.
1. Search online for deals.
From mommy blogs to local tourism offices, great deals abound. Sign up for newsletters with your local cultural center or movie theater and be the first to know about discounts and upcoming special events.
2. You don’t have to avoid restaurants to save money, just know when and where to go.
A number of high-end restaurants are beginning to create expensive menus for diners on a budget. Guests have the opportunity to experience the same delicious food with a much more affordable price tag with “restaurant weeks. ” Usually occurring twice a year in winter and summer season, many high-end restaurants offer prix fixe meals for a deep discount. Search online for a restaurant week in your area. Some city websites include www.centercityphila.org and iloveny.com.
Another way to hit up a trendy restaurant year-round is to make it a daytime affair. If you’re hankering to try out the new hot spot, but hesitant to drop a lot of cash, trade in a Saturday night for a Sunday afternoon and enjoy a brunch instead. Many brunch places offer a deal that includes Bloody Marys or mimosas; so you can still have fun and check out the cool environments, but at a fraction of the cost.
3. Money-saving movie ideas.
To save money at the movies, Costco offers members super saver movie tickets for several large theaters such as AMC, Cinemark and Regal Entertainment. Discounted group tickets save $2. For more information, visit Costco.com
AMC Theatres also has a fun program called A.M.Cinema, where morning guests have the opportunity to see first-run movies at their best ticket price of the day before noon on select Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holiday periods at all AMC locations in the U.S. and Canada. Guests can enjoy ticket prices of $4, $5 or $6, depending on the theatre and the market, and at all locations the price is lower than the child’s price!
This year they are also bringing back their popular Oscar event where for $30, you can get an all-day pass to see all five Oscar-nominated best pictures on February 12. Your admission also gets you a bag of popcorn with free refills. Check out www.amctheatres.com for more information.
4. Contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Next time you travel, especially with a group (like for a reunion or wedding) contact the city’s convention and visitors bureau. They can often send out a lead to hotels and find out the best room rate for you. Most people don’t think of the CVB, but they can save you time and money. www.neworleanscvb.com and ww.sanantoniocvb.com are very nice and helpful.
You can also discover our own back yard. Instead of hopping in car for a weekend away, strap on your walking shoes or hop on your bike and discover neighborhoods in your own city. From architecture tours to scenic bike routes, many cities offer free excursions that allow you to affordably explore your town and get some exercise in the meantime. If you prefer to stay away from groups, you can also download maps, and forge your own trail.
5. Game on.
With the weather cold- and maybe the pockets tight after post-holiday shopping-this Friday nigh stay in with family and friends and let the games begin. Monopoly has an updated version the “Monopoly Electronic Banking Edition”, with an all-new debit payment system. Each player receives a Monopoly debit card and starts off with $15M and keeps track their balances, a great way to introduce kids to the world of finance. Visit Hasbro.com for more information. Another hugely popular game is the Cranium Whoonu —Dakota Fanning is a fan. The Fun-Filled “What’s Your Favorite Thing?” Cranium Whoonu is as fun to play as it is to say. This exciting game is loads of fun as players guess – and celebrate – each other’s favorite things. Dad likes karaoke better than college football? Your best friend likes hip-hop better than flip-flops? Whoonu! The goal of the game is to win the most points by correctly guessing each player’s favorite things. Fun for kids and adults. Visit Cranium.com for more information.
6. Get Cultured.
Most museums offer a free day or evening, so find out when it is and take in some art with the family. Attending art opening at galleries are usually free to public, serve up wine, and offer you an opportunity to expand your art knowledge by talking to the artist firsthand.
7. Host a tasting party
More posh than a cooking club, and more fun than a book club, holding a tasting party is an affordable way to learn about food and wine. From high-end tequilas to artisanal cheeses, have guests pitch in and bring items, download info from the internet, and learn to discern the nuances of a 100 percent Blue Agave tequila, or compare the differences between English and Vermont Cheddar.
8. Travel off the beaten path
Forget bustling Napa, connoisseurs can had to idyllic and not-crowded wine and spirits destinations, like the tranquil Texas Hill Country—located just outside of Austin—which is the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the country and the No. 2 destination behind Napa/Sonoma for wine enthusiasts. The area is home to world-class varietals and free tasting rooms To learn more about Texas wines, just go to www.gotexanwine.org. Another hot spot is the historic Bourbon Trail, located only 30 minutes outside of Louisville; the bucolic region boasts seven distilleries that are open to the public for tours and tastings. Besides serving up top quality whiskey the area also offers visitors a riveting lesson in American history as well as the ethereal pastoral landscapes. Visit www.kentuckybourbontrail.com
9. Always ask about discounts. Many discounts are offered to students, senior citizens, or military personnel and families at movies, heaters and theme parks, and often aren’t posted or listed, so don’t hesitate to ask.
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